Collapsible box.



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F. A. SGRUBY.

GOLLAPSIBLE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1908.

Patented Dec. s, 1908.

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LWMO; 3* 01M, Md Mi u sllliwmm- Patented Dec. 8, 1908. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. A, SGRUBY.

GOLLAPSIBLE BOX APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1908.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FJitANK A. sewer, or.

GOLLAPSIBLE BOX.

- 4 Specification ofLetters Patent. Application filed June 22, 1903. j Serial No. seam.

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE E. SGRUBY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 'I, FRANK A. SORUBY, a

. citizen of the United States, residing .in.

- end portions of the Grand Rapids, in the county'of Kent and State of -Michi an, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Collapsible. Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of boxes which are formed from a blank of pasteboard or the like, which is shaped; sht and score I in such mannerthatit may be conveniently bent 'into' box form and certain parts attached to each other so that it will retain such form. I Such boxeshave heretofore been so constructed that they may be collapsed for packing or' transportation and y to axes of my invention relates particular this latter kind.

' My. improvement consists in shape an form to the blank and so connecting the parts that the box may be very quickly changed from its distendedto its.

collapsed condition in a novel way without disconnecting the attached parts] a 7 The blank from which he box is formed has a general recta lar shape. It is scored or creased to; efine the sides-and ends which are bent to assume positions at right angles to the body of the box in the usual way, The'end portions of the blank have flaps with inclined or curved edges which are imfiortant factors in the operat on of bendingt e blank into box form, or in coll'apsingit. At each end of eachside por tion there is a corner piecewbich is separated from the adjacent sidepart b a score or crease and from the adjacent-en part by a slit or crease, and eachcorner piece is scored or creased dlagonallggo assist in foldi x in the manner I inafter described. The corner parts of the box are attached-to the end pieces in such manner that the sides and ends of the box areso connected b I the comer pieces that the box may be co a sed into a flat condi' tion or distended into ox form b very simple movements, viz.;-by merely awing the end parts away from each other, or by pushmg them towards each other, the curved-- edges of the flaps hereinbefore referred to serving as guides acting on the corner -ieces to cause them to so move that the blan may shows a blank whic giving such I be bent into box form or reducedto its 001- la 'sed condition.

n the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 ma be made of paperboard, pasteboard or ot er similar material and from which my improved box is made. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the box in its 001- =lapsed conditlon. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the box-in shape for use. Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective illustrating more clearly how the parts are folded and connected. Fig. 5 is a perspective view illus- 6.5 'trating the manner in which the curved edges of the end flaps operate. Fig. 6 is a I plan view of one end of a modified form of lank and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one I end of a box made from a blank of the kind shown in Fi ..6..

The boxustrated in the drawings is of the general kind commonl used by tailors, dressmakers and others, ut my lmprovements may be embodied in boxes of other kinds. In the class-of boxes illustrated, it is common to form the top or cover in substantially the same way as the body of the box.-

It will be understood, therefore,v that when I describe a, box, I mean to include also a box cover. i The blank shown in Fig. 1 consists of. central or body portion A, sides 3, and endsU. The sides and ends are separated from the central or'body ortion A by means'of creases 8t or scores. I), c. lilach ofthe end'sections C is provided with a-flap between whichand the outer edge of the en" ig'ece there is a lme 1 of scores or a crease d. e outer ed? (1 of each flap is straight, as shown, while t gilegces E'are all alike. In the form shown in "creased 1-o'r scored at e diagonally from the angle formed by the creases b and c at e out- 106 wardly to the point, e which is substantially in line with the creased.

In'bendi'ng the blank into box form, the

two sides B are first bent upwards until they assume a parallel position with each other 105 I and at right angles with the body A, the core side I I edges d are inclined or curved. The corner ner pieces E and wings E being carried with the side pieces, then the corner pieces are bent inwards along the creases c, then the end pieces C are bent along the creases 0 until the assume ositions at right angles to the b0 y A and 'e against the corner pieces E and wings E. The flaps D are then bent over and made to lie close against the corner pieces E and wings E, and then staples or other securing devices F are applied to secure firmly together the sides C, wings E and flaps D, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3.

Each end of the box is formed in the same way, and when the parts are thus brought together and connected, as shown in Fig. 3, the box will retain its pro er form, there being no' danger of the box eing collapsed accidentally. The ends are reinforced or strengthened by the construction shown, and the corners are neatly produced. There are i no interlocking slits and tongues on the out- 3 5' of the corner pieces in front or outside thecreases e not being bent, while the outerside of the box, the latter having a pleasing appearance with no projecting parts that are li ely to tear. In order to colla se the box, it is only necessary to take hold of the two end parts and pull them away from each other, when the ox will assume the condition shown in Fig. 2 where the parts all lie flat upon each other; To further explain this operation, referring now to Fig. 5, as one end 0 the box is moved away from the other end, the sides bend over towards the body of the box upon the creases b, e and e ,the wings E and the endportions edges of the inner parts of the corner pieces engage the inclined or curved edges d of the flaps D, and are so guided thereby as to be turned down upon the end ieces C, carrying with them the sides B. en in the flat condition, shown in Fig. 2, the collapsed boxes may be packed into a small space for shi ment or storage.

.he' collapsed boxes may be very quickly changed to their distended condition by merely ap lying pressure upwards and inwards to t e end portions of the box. This pressure causes the edgesof the corner pieces to bear upon the inclined or curved edges d of the flaps which, as the ends move upwardly and inwardly toward each other, cause the sides to move upwards and outwards until they, with the end pieces, assume the, position shown in Fig. 3. It will thus be seen that without disconnecting any ofthe attached parts, but by merely applying pres- 'or-distended, as desired.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a slight modification is shown. In this case each corner piece E instead of being se arated from the adjacent end piece C by a s 't, is separated by a crease e and the wing E, shown in Fig. 1, is omitted. Otherwise the formation is the same as in Fig. 1.

In attaching the parts shown in Fig. 6, the outer part a: of the corner piece is bent over against the end piece C and secured thereto by a suitable fastening device F, and the other section of the corner piece is bent outwards, as indicatedin Fig. 7, but this portion of the corner piece is not attached by fastening devices to either the art a: or to the end C. The flap D which, as efore stated, is the same in construction as that shown in Fig. 1, operates in substantially the same way as heretofore described, the edge d acting on toward each other t e ends of the box.

I claim as my invention f 1. A box comprising a body portion, sides,

ends, and diagonally creased corner-pieces connectin the sides with the ends, flaps on the ends cut over upon the end-pieces of the box and having curved or inclined opposite ed es cooperatin with the cornerieces 0% the box to gui e the parts when the ox is being collapsed ordistended, and'fastening devices for attaching the outer portions of the corner-pieces to the ends of the box and for also attaching the bent-over portions of the fiaps thereto.

2. A aper box comprisingthe body portion, si es and ends, diagonally creased corner pieces having portions permanently fastened to the ends of the box and fla s formed on the end portions of the box whic are bent over upon the corner pieces, are attached to the ends of the box and are formed with curved or inclined opposite edges cooperating with the outer edges of the corner pieces to cause the box to be collapsed or distended by merely pulling the ends of the box apart or by pushing them towards each other.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. I

' FRANK A. SORUBY.

Witnesses:

VERA J. PARK, FRED G. BECKER. 

